For our ongoing pressure campaign against Lithium Nevada and Far Western Anthropological Research Group to oppose the looting of Indigenous people and culture at Peehee Mu’huh:

WE NEED YOUR ACTION!!

Call the Register of Professional Archaeologists’ Grievance Hotline to let them know that Far Western employees, members of their Register, are violating their code of conduct by participating in the planned theft and destruction of over cultural sites and historical sites in Peehee mu’huh (Thacker Pass, NV).

In solidarity with Atsa koodakuh wyh Nuwu (the People of Red Mountain), Protect Thacker Pass calls on our supporters to tell the Register to drop all Far Western members from the Register immediately, or warn them that proceeding with this project may put their registry status in jeopardy.

CALL the Register of Professional Archeologists’ Grievance Hotline TODAY
Phone: 410-246-2150

A sample email / call script is pasted below. Feel free to add your own thoughts, too.

Hello, I’m calling to register a grievance against your members, including Craig Young, who are employees of Far Western Anthropological Research Group.

Members of the Register who work for Far Western are working with Lithium Nevada Corporation and the BLM to dig at Thacker Pass Nevada, known as Peehee mu’huh to the regional native people, on or after July 29, 2021. They will remove cultural artifacts and possible burial sites so that Lithium Nevada Corporation and its parent company Lithium Americas Corporation can proceed with a massive lithium mine. This mine will destroy an area sacred to the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone people who oppose this proposed lithium mine.

Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone tribal members do not want any artifacts in Thacker Pass or anywhere in the surrounding area to be taken for any reason. Taking these artifacts and disturbing potential burial sites would constitute yet another shameful chapter in a long history of settlers trying to destroy Native history and culture. Along with the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone traditional tribal members, there are ten other tribes in the region with cultural connections to Peehee mu’huh who were not properly consulted before this mine was permitted and approval for the dig was given. In addition, the proper documents required under the national historic preservation act to be shared with all interested parties, including these tribes, were not shared. 

We believe Far Western’s work with Lithium Nevada and the BLM violates the Register’s code of conduct which states (section 1.2 f) that an archeologist shall not engage in any illegal or unethical conduct involving archeological matters or knowingly permit the user of his/her name in support of any illegal or unethical activity involving archeological matters.

Due to inadequate consultation with indigenous peoples, the Far Western members of the Register are in violation of the ethical principles of your discipline, and specifically of your code of conduct. What’s worse, they are about to violate the ethics of the human family. Given the strong indigenous opposition to the proposed digging, what the Far Western members are about to do at Peehee mu’huh is essentially looting and grave-robbing. We encourage you to drop all Far Western members from the Register immediately, or warn them that proceeding with this project may put their registry status in jeopardy.

Thank you,

[Name]

Leave a message or talk directly to whoever answers the phone. If they ask you for a contact at Far Western, please give them this information:

Main contact: Craig Young
Email: craig@farwestern.com
Phone: (775) 847-0223 Extension 213
Far Western Anthropological Research Group
3656 Research Way, Suite 32, Carson City, NV 89706

We need your help! We need you to call and write Craig Young with Far Western Anthropological Research Group and oppose the looting of Indigenous people and culture at Peehee Mu’huh.

Peehee mu’huh (Thacker Pass, NV) is on the chopping block for destruction in the name of a 400-foot deep lithium mining pit. There are over 1,000 cultural sites and 58 historical sites in the crosshairs of this destruction. In order to get a permit, the mining company Lithium America has hired cultural looters from Far Western to dig up sacred cultural artifacts, place them in boxes, and store them far away from their land and their people.

WE NEED YOUR ACTION!!

In solidarity with Atsa koodakuh wyh Nuwu (the People of Red Mountain), Protect Thacker Pass calls on our supporters to tell Far Western Anthropological Research Group not to destroy or desecrate the Paiute massacre site, artifacts, cultural resources, or potential burial sites in Peehee mu’huh.

Craig Young with Far Western is the principal orchestrator of this theft and he needs to hear from us! We need to demand that they pull out of this project and protect Thacker Pass and the people who call this place home.

EMAIL OR CALL CRAIG YOUNG!

Email: craig@farwestern.com
Phone: (775) 847-0223 Extension 213

A sample email / call script is pasted below. Feel free to add your own thoughts, too.

You can also SHOW UP in front of Far Western’s regional office in Carson City, Nevada, on JULY 7th at 11am.

SUBJECT: Cancel your project with Lithium America at Thacker Pass

Dr. Young,

I stand in solidarity with the People of Red Mountain, a committee of Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone who oppose the proposed lithium mine at Peehee mu’huh (the Paiute name for Thacker Pass, Nevada). I demand that you put a stop to Far Western’s planned exhumation of indigenous cultural sites and remains at this site.

From an indigenous perspective, removing artifacts, burial sites or anything of that sort is bad medicine. Many traditions teach that we risk sickness if we remove or take those things. Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone tribal members do not want any artifacts or burial sites in Thacker Pass or anywhere in the surrounding area to be taken for any reason. Taking these artifacts and disturbing burial sites would constitute yet another shameful chapter in a long history of settlers trying to destroy Native history and culture.

I should not have to remind you of your own ethical principles as archaeologists. Due to inadequate consultation with indigenous peoples, you are in violation of the ethical principles of your discipline. What’s worse, you are about to violate the ethics of the human family. Given the strong indigenous opposition to the proposed digging, what you are about to do at Peehee mu’huh is essentially looting and grave-robbing. Please change course before it is too late. If you do not, you must expect consequences in the court of public opinion.

[Name]

Thank you!